Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 1 Learning About Children 13 erased and are passed on to the offspring due to changes in the egg and sperm. In these cases, nurture becomes nature. Lesson 1.1 Review and Assessment 1. Defi ne the term child development. 2. List and describe the four domains of child development. 3. Name the six stages of the individual life cycle that involve children and give the average ages for each stage. 4. What are the two main factors that infl uence growth and development? 5. What does epigenome mean? What can the epigenome do? 6. Critical thinking. How have heredity and environment combined to affect your growth and development? • Although the epigenome can change throughout life, positive and negative experiences from conception to 12 months have the most lasting effects. • The brain is the most susceptible to changes in the epigenome. Adverse experiences are not erased, but affect the person’s overall well-being for the rest of his or her life. • Changes in the epigenome— both positive and negative—can be passed down to the next generation if they occur in the unborn. Generally the chemical tags are erased, but about one percent of these tags are not Figure 1.5 Levels of Stress Level Defi nition Examples Results Toxic Strong and prolonged (over a long time) activation of the body’s stress system • Family and community violence • Multiple, repeated traumatic events • Development of a smaller brain • Stress-related physical illness, such as heart disease, stroke, and possibly diabetes • Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse Tolerable Not as long-lasting as toxic stress • Death or serious illness of a loved one • Parental divorce • Can be helped with loving and supporting relationships • Recovers with adult support • Becomes toxic without adult support Positive Moderate and short- lived stress • Meeting new people • Attending a new child care and education program or a new school • Taking a test • Having a medical procedure • Can become more serious if the setting is not warm or secure or if supportive adults are not available Toxic stress or prolonged and frequent tolerable stress can result in mental health problems throughout life.